Diabetes Mellitus: Information that may help us and our love Ones

Recently, someone that I knew died from complications due to diabetes and my dear mother and one of my friends are presently living with diabetes. The death of the person who died from complications due to diabetes has motivated me to help spread the word on diabetes; consequently, some people may not have to succumb to the effects of diabetes and will be more informed about this disease and be able to manage their disease along with their healthcare providers so that the effects from diabetes can be reduced.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008) In 2007, in the United States of America there were approximately 23.6 million people who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and there were about 5.7 million people who had the disease and were undiagnosed. More that sixty percent of lower limb amputations that are classified as nontraumatic are a result of diabetes complications (Centers, 2008). Complications from diabetes can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. If people are informed about the effects of diabetes they and their healthcare providers can develop a plan of care that can help to reduce the negative effects of diabetes mellitus.

What is Diabetes?

Williams and Hopper (2007) stated that diabetes mellitus "is a group of metabolic diseases in which defects in insulin secretion or action result in high blood sugar level" (p. 852). The body breaks down most of the food that we eat into the sugar that is known as glucose and uses glucose as energy. Insulin is a hormone that is made in the pancreas and one of its main functions is to help glucose to get into the cells. When a person has diabetes his or her body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that is made; and as a result, glucose level rises in the bloodstream (Centers, 2010). Diabetes is diagnosed when the fasting plasma glucose  is equal to or greater than 126 mg/dL after staying without food for at least eight hours ( Williams & Hopper, 2010). Therefore, if a person continues to have high levels of blood glucose that person is at risk for diseases such as heart disease and kidney failure.

Types of  Diabetes Mellitus:

Type 1

In type one diabetes the pancreas makes little or no insulin so the body is unable to use blood glucose as energy. People who have this type of diabetes need to take insulin on a daily basis (Centers, 2010).

Type 2

In type two diabetes the tissues in the body are not affected by the insulin that is produced by the body. The pancreas still makes insulin in this type of diabetes but usually in insufficient amount (Williams & Hopper, 2010). Therefore, in this type of diabetes the body may not be able to use the insulin that is made or the insulin is inadequate for the blood sugar level. People with this type of diabetes usually take diabetes pills or insulin. Type two diabetes mellitus is the most commonly diagnosed among people with diabetes (Centers, 2010).

There is gestational diabetes that I will not discuss here.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

• Excessive thirst
• Urinating frequently
• Extreme hunger
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Slow healing skin
• Tingling in the feet and or lack of feelings in the feet
• Headache
• Abdominal pain (Williams & Hopper, 2007: Centers, 2010).

The above-mentioned symptoms may be related to other conditions than diabetes. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms please see your primary physician.

Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

• Having a family history of diabetes
• Lack of exercise
• Overweight
• Belonging to one of these races or ethnic groups: African American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, Asian / Pacific Islander heritage (Centers, 2010).

Currently, there is no information on the prevention of type 1 diabetes; however, for type 2 diabetes research studies have shown that "weight loss and regular exercise" can help to "prevent or delay the onset of diabetes" (Williams & Hopper, 2010).

Treatments / Interventions

 Diabetes can be controlled with diet, exercise, and by following the plan of care that was set up by the person with diabetes and his or her physician. People with type one diabetes take insulin on a daily basis and a physician will decide the protocol of treatment for type 2 diabetes which may include oral hypoglycemic medications and or insulin. Blood glucose monitoring on a regular basis is very essential in the control of diabetes. It is also imperative that people who are diagnosed with diabetes educate themselves about the disease so that they can make informed lifestyle changes that will help them to reduced the effects of diabetes (Williams & Hopper. 2007).

Therefore, it is vital that people who have risk factors for diabetes and those who have been diagnosed with diabetes make the necessary lifestyle changes that include diet and exercise. Eating a balance diet and watching portion sizes are essential to having the body mass index (BMI) that is right for one's body. Body mass index is used to measure one's body fat and is calculated by measuring one's weight in relation to how tall one is (National, 2010). Having a regular exercise program that is approved by one's healthcare provider is imperative to one's general health which include reducing the effects of diabetes. It is also equally important to follow the plan of care that was developed with the help of the physician. If people with diabetes are educated about diabetes and follow their plan of care they can help reduced complications that are due to diabetes.

                                              References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Diabetes. Retrieved from
http:www.cdc.gov/diabetes.


National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2010). Calculate Your Body Mass Index. Retrieved from http:www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.

Williams, L. S., & Hopper, P. D. (2007). Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing (11th ed). Philadelphia: Davis.





Please feel free to pass on this information to your love ones who may benefit from this post. I wish you a long and healthy life and I pray that if there are lifestyle changes that you need to make that God will give you the strength that you need to make those changes. May all your days be filled with love and prosperity. God bless you!!

Be Blessed,

Joy